University of Virginia Library

SCENE VIII.

Enter Lysimachus.
Lys.
[entering.]
O! let me for a moment but behold her,
And then— [seeing her.]
But sure I dream!—It is my love!

Asp.
[to herself, not seeing him.]
He surely knows I live; for public fame
Must widely spread the chance—Alas! he glows
With other flames than mine—ungrateful man!
And yet I cannot shake him from my thoughts;
But hence—it shall be so—these ties dissolv'd—

[going.
Lys.
Hear me, my life!

Asp.
[turning.]
Who calls me thus his life?
[seeing him.]
O Heavens!

Lys.
Thy own, thy true Lysimachus;
Yes, fair Aspasia, once again my fate
Has brought me to my lov'd-one's sight.

Asp.
Aspasia?
I am no longer she—Aspasia's dead.

Lys.
So fame, I know, declar'd; but well I know
The tale was false; I know how Heaven preserv'd thee.

Asp.
Then add to this, what yet thou hast not learn'd,
And further know—for thee I live no more.

Lys.
Ah! wherefore thus transfix my bleeding heart?

Asp.
So true a lover and so firm a friend
Must merit sure from me a tender greeting.
And hast thou dar'd, ingrate! my father's foe,
To meet Aspasia now and speak of love?

Lys.
Thy father's foe? Alas! thou little know'st
The conflict that I feel.—A sacred duty
Compels me to obey my country's mandates;
While every moment, in my tortur'd breast,
The lover with the citizen contends.

Asp.
Thou must relinquish one.

Lys.
Ah! one I cannot,
And one I ought not.—Every hour I strive,
With agonizing pangs, against my peace,
And seek to gain what, gain'd, must make me wretched.

Asp.
The Heavens be prais'd! thou yet hast nothing gain'd.

Lys.
Alas! Aspasia, I have gain'd too much.
Forgive me, O! ye guardian Gods of Athens!
If to her griefs I pay this tender sigh.

Asp.
I tremble—speak—say, what hast thou obtain'd?

Lys.
The king gives up Themistocles to Greece.

Asp.
Wretched Aspasia!

Lys.
Even this very hour
He plights his word to send him hence.

Asp.
O Heavens!
[aside.]
Ah! Xerxes thus will punish my refusal.
[to Lys.]
Lysimachus, have pity! Thou alone
Canst save my father.

Lys.
O! what power is mine?
Perhaps already may the king expect me,
Where now the people and the troops are met.
Before them all he means to render up
The victim to my hands.—O! think what power
Can rest with me.

Asp.
All, if thou wilt, is thine:
Consent that by a secret flight—

Lys.
Aspasia,
What would'st thou ask?

Asp.
I from a lover ask
A certain proof of love: thou canst not sure
Reject my prayer.

Lys.
Alas! before I lov'd
My duty was prescrib'd by other laws,
A citizen of Athens.

Asp.
Does the name
Of citizen compel thee to pursue
A guiltless exile?

Lys.
O! I seek it not:
I but fulfil my duty.

Asp.
Be it so:
We have our several duties—this is mine.
Farewell for ever!

[going.
Lys.
Whither, whither goest thou?

Asp.
I go to Xerxes' arms.

Lys.
What says Aspasia?

Asp.
Yes, Xerxes loves me, and to assist a father
All nature pleads within me.—Ere I lov'd
My duty was prescrib'd by other laws,
The daughter of Themistocles.

Lys.
Yet hear me.
Give not the world, Aspasia, this example
Of broken faith.

Asp.
I follow where thou lead'st,
And but fulfil my duty.

Lys.
Does the struggle
So little cost thee?

Asp.
Little cost? Then learn
To thy confusion, 'tis to punish me
That Xerxes gives my father: but even now
He sent to offer me his hand and throne;
And she, to whom it little costs to leave thee,
Has, for thy sake, refus'd the Persian throne.

Lys.
What say'st thou, O! my love?

Asp.
Nor is this all.
Hear, cruel man! thou know'st I've many a cause,
And yet I cannot hate thee: now reduc'd
To this extreme, to part from thee for ever,
I feel my heart divided from my breast.
I should conceal my weakness—but in vain,
In vain I strive—Behold, ungrateful man!
In spite of all, my tears will find a way.

Lys.
Ah! weep not thus—I yield—What have I said?
Farewell, my life, farewell!

Asp.
And whither goest thou?

Lys.
I fly from trials which my virtue fears.

Asp.
If any spark of pity yet remain—

Lys.

[Exit.